First partial cranium of Togocetus from Kpogamé (Togo) and the protocetid diversity in the Togolese phosphate basin

Kassegne, Koffi Evenyon; Mourlam, Mickaël; Guinot, Guillaume; Amoudji, Yawovi Zikpi; Martin, Jérémy E.; Togbe, Kodjo Adika; Kodjo, Mawugno Koffi; Hautier, Lionel

doi:10.1016/j.annpal.2021.102488

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 73 publications

(199 reference statements)

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“…The presence of a third, lingual root and a lingual lobe is otherwise unknown in other odontocetes, toothed mysticetes, and basilosaurids ( Uhen, 2004 ; Martínez-Cáceres, Lambert & de Muizon, 2017 ), but present in more basal forms ( e.g. , protocetids and kekenodontids; Kellogg, 1936 ; Kassegne et al, 2021 ; Corrie & Fordyce, 2022 ). A somewhat similar crown morphology is observed in protocetids such as Indocetus ramani Sahni & Mishra, 1975 , Aegyptocetus tarfa Bianucci & Gingerich, 2011 , and Togocetus traversei Gingerich & Cappetta, 2014 , as well as in Kekenodon onamata Hector, 1881 , all of which have a protocone lobe supported by a lingual root in the more posterior upper premolars and molars ( Bajpai & Thewissen, 2014 ; Kassegne et al, 2021 ; Corrie & Fordyce, 2022 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…, protocetids and kekenodontids; Kellogg, 1936 ; Kassegne et al, 2021 ; Corrie & Fordyce, 2022 ). A somewhat similar crown morphology is observed in protocetids such as Indocetus ramani Sahni & Mishra, 1975 , Aegyptocetus tarfa Bianucci & Gingerich, 2011 , and Togocetus traversei Gingerich & Cappetta, 2014 , as well as in Kekenodon onamata Hector, 1881 , all of which have a protocone lobe supported by a lingual root in the more posterior upper premolars and molars ( Bajpai & Thewissen, 2014 ; Kassegne et al, 2021 ; Corrie & Fordyce, 2022 ). However, the lobe on the lingual side of the teeth of protocetids and K. onomata is located distolingually, differing from the condition observed in O. avitus and LACM 124104, in which the lobe is located mesiolingually, and may thus not be homologous.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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New heterodont odontocetes from the Oligocene Pysht Formation in Washington State, U.S.A., and a reevaluation of Simocetidae (Cetacea, Odontoceti)

Vélez‐Juarbe

2023

PeerJ

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Odontocetes first appeared in the fossil record by the early Oligocene, and their early evolutionary history can provide clues as to how some of their unique adaptations, such as echolocation, evolved. Here, three new specimens from the early to late Oligocene Pysht Formation are described further increasing our understanding of the richness and diversity of early odontocetes, particularly for the North Pacific. Phylogenetic analysis shows that the new specimens are part of a more inclusive, redefined Simocetidae, which now includes Simocetus rayi, Olympicetus sp. 1, Olympicetus avitus, O. thalassodon sp. nov., and a large unnamed taxon (Simocetidae gen. et sp. A), all part of a North Pacific clade that represents one of the earliest diverging groups of odontocetes. Amongst these, Olympicetus thalassodon sp. nov. represents one of the best known simocetids, offering new information on the cranial and dental morphology of early odontocetes. Furthermore, the inclusion of CCNHM 1000, here considered to represent a neonate of Olympicetus sp., as part of the Simocetidae, suggests that members of this group may not have had the capability of ultrasonic hearing, at least during their early ontogenetic stages. Based on the new specimens, the dentition of simocetids is interpreted as being plesiomorphic, with a tooth count more akin to that of basilosaurids and early toothed mysticetes, while other features of the skull and hyoid suggest various forms of prey acquisition, including raptorial or combined feeding in Olympicetus spp., and suction feeding in Simocetus. Finally, body size estimates show that small to moderately large taxa are present in Simocetidae, with the largest taxon represented by Simocetidae gen. et sp. A with an estimated body length of 3 m, which places it as the largest known simocetid, and amongst the largest Oligocene odontocetes. The new specimens described here add to a growing list of Oligocene marine tetrapods from the North Pacific, further promoting faunistic comparisons across other contemporaneous and younger assemblages, that will allow for an improved understanding of the evolution of marine faunas in the region.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

New heterodont odontocetes from the Oligocene Pysht Formation in Washington State, U.S.A., and a reevaluation of Simocetidae (Cetacea, Odontoceti)

Vélez‐Juarbe

2023

PeerJ

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“…In the 1980s, when the specimens described here were collected, the phospharenite layer included a condensed horizon in the transitional zone between the calcareous phosphate formation and phospharenite that was referred to the 'Bone Bed du Mur' (BBM) by Cappetta and Traverse (1988) and Gingerich and Cappetta (2014). This horizon yielded numerous fragments of internal casts of gastropods, bivalves, and nautilid fragments (Johnson, 1987;Slansky, 1962), along with a rich vertebrate fauna, including chondrichthyans and bony fishes (Cappetta & Traverse, 1988), pseudo-toothed birds (Bourdon & Cappetta, 2012), early cetaceans, sirenians, and indeterminate terrestrial mammals (Gingerich & Cappetta, 2014;Kassegne et al, 2021). Another condensed horizon resting on the carbonatized and phosphatized bed, referred to as the 'Bone Bed reposant sur la couche carbonatée' (BBR), also yielded similar invertebrate and vertebrate faunas (Cappetta & Traverse, 1988;Gingerich & Cappetta, 2014).…”

Section: Geological Settingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

An assemblage of giant aquatic snakes (Serpentes, Palaeophiidae) from the Eocene of Togo

et al. 2021

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We here describe a monospecific assemblage of giant aquatic snakes from the middle Eocene of Kpogamé, Togo. The material, consisting of large isolated vertebrae, is referred to Palaeophis africanus, an enigmatic palaeophiid species, which was so far otherwise known only from a limited number of vertebrae from the middle Eocene of Nigeria and Angola. Material from the late Eocene of the eastern USA that had been referred to the same species, is here instead considered too fragmentary for species-level determination and Palaeophis africanus is thus so far restricted to Africa. With the aid of micro-CT scanning, we present 3D models of 17 vertebrae, pertaining to different portions of the vertebral column. We provide detailed comparisons of the new material with all named African species of the genus Palaeophis. A tentative diagnosis of Palaeophis africanus is provided. With more than 50 vertebrae, the new Togolese specimens represent the most abundant known material attributed to Palaeophis africanus and significantly enhance our knowledge of the vertebral anatomy and intracolumnar variation for this taxon. Furthermore, this adds to the, as yet, extremely scarce fossil record of squamates from central western Africa, a region where Paleogene herpetofaunas are only rather poorly known.

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3D models related to the publication: First partial cranium of Togocetus from Kpogamé (Togo) and the protocetid diversity in the Togolese phosphate basin.

Kassegne¹,

Mourlam²,

Guinot³

et al. 2021

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First partial cranium of Togocetus from Kpogamé (Togo) and the protocetid diversity in the Togolese phosphate basin

Cited by 3 publications

References 73 publications

New heterodont odontocetes from the Oligocene Pysht Formation in Washington State, U.S.A., and a reevaluation of Simocetidae (Cetacea, Odontoceti)

New heterodont odontocetes from the Oligocene Pysht Formation in Washington State, U.S.A., and a reevaluation of Simocetidae (Cetacea, Odontoceti)

An assemblage of giant aquatic snakes (Serpentes, Palaeophiidae) from the Eocene of Togo

3D models related to the publication: First partial cranium of Togocetus from Kpogamé (Togo) and the protocetid diversity in the Togolese phosphate basin.

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